Pakistani Christians have little faith in democracy

ISLAMABAD: The thrashed and wrecked Christians in Pakistan have little faith in democracy.

Christians in Pakistan

This fear rises to the surface, as the country prepares to elect a new parliament tomorrow, 11th of May, 2013.The minorities fear that the new elected candidates may hand the religious extremists as the escalating religious intolerance will rise instead of being curbed. During these past five years the persecution of Christians has simply grown worse than ever, which does not appears to diminish, as the mainstream parties are showing inclination towards radical specially Pakistani Taliban, the Christians believe.

Over the span of five years the religious intolerance towards minorities in Pakistan has been on the rise with maximum number of blasphemy charges against Christians and incidents like Badami Bagh arson and Francis Colony, Gujranwala assault have tainting the country’s image.

Recently, a report from the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom which declared a “crisis for minorities in Pakistan” has marred the confidence of non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan in the democratic form of government.

Constant failure of the democratically elected Governments to protect the religious minorities has added fuel to the inferno of violence against minorities. The country is now on the verge of electing a new parliament for the first time ever in its history that an elected government will be replaced another elected government. Nonetheless, the minorities specially, the Christian political parties have boycotted these elections as they celebrate 11th May as “Black Day.” The reality that some of the most ardent radicals are now contending in these polls; the mainstream political parties gratify radicals to secure their votes, often witnessed side by side with well known militants in their expeditions.

Several minorities’ representatives, when questioned in this context, expressed deep fears that the upcoming vote will only furnish more influence to the extremists. Ever since the election of the outgoing Government, the sectarian attacks have become relentlessly violent, whereas, the religious minorities continuously found themselves increasingly targeted by radical militants. Devoid of hope, thus minorities have no faith that the upcoming elections will bring any significant change in the currently prevailing sectarian violence.